Tapioca
(Manihot Esculenta Crantz) was introduced in India during the later part of the 18th
Century. Today, in India tapioca is grown over an area of about 3 lakhs hectares, with a
production of 58 to 60 lakhs tonnes of tubers. Though Kerala ranks first in cultivation
and production in the country. Tamilnadu stands first in respect of processing of tapioca
into starch and sago and hence this crop has now acquired a status of one of the important
commercial crops in the State.

Tapioca
and its finished products are used as food, animal feed and as raw material for several
industrial products. Tapioca is considered as the cheapest source of Carbohydrates among
the cereals, tubers and root crops and is a staple diet in may parts of Africa, South
America & Asia. About 500 million people eat tapioca in the World. Nutritionally, it
contains 98% Carbohydrates and appreciable amount of Calcium and Vitamin-C. India is one
of the leading countries in tapioca production.